Lee Purdy relishing his dream world title shot against Devon Alexander in Atlantic City

Lee Purdy’s unexpected call-up for a world welterweight title fight against
high-profile American Devon Alexander in Atlantic City next weekend could
result in him breaking new ground in the most recognisable division in
boxing.

Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley all campaign at 147lbs, and victory on Saturday would propel 25-year-old Purdy on to the world stage.

Purdy, ranked No 4 in the International Boxing Federation ratings, was called up three weeks ago when Matchroom stablemate Kell Brook suffered a foot stress fracture. It meant his bout with Alexander was delayed for a third time.

“Call it fate if you like. It was totally out of the blue,” Purdy’s promoter Eddie Hearn said yesterday. “Our fighter Kell Brook was the mandatory challenger to Devon Alexander, he gets injured and the fight is postponed for a third time. It was a flat feeling.

“Then, 24 hours after talking to Lee’s trainer, Tony Sims, about what we might do next for Lee, I get a call from the States offering a world title challenge for the Essex lad. I called Tony Sims, he called Purdy, and about a third of a second later he’s called back to accept the challenge.”

Twenty months ago, the Colchester fighter lost the British welterweight title on a majority points decision to Colin Lynes, and was in the rebuilding process, but opportunities can present themselves when least expected. Purdy has clawed his way back since then with four straight wins - for the English welterweight title, and latterly, the IBF international welterweight crown.

“He’s learning all the time, and this world title fight has come too early, really, but when you are offered a world title fight against the likes of a Devon Alexander, you’ve got to take the opportunity,” Hearn said.

“You know you can’t pull the wool over people’s eyes. Purdy will be a huge underdog in this fight against Alexander. Sometimes you can see no way a fight can be won, but Lee Purdy has the tools to do it. He’s not going to outbox Alexander, but he could KO him because he’s as strong as a bull and has dynamite in both hands.

“If he wasn’t as strong as he is, and a big puncher, you couldn’t give him a chance, but if he can make it a brawl and take Alexander out of his comfort zone, he has a chance.

“Alexander is talking about fights with the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Amir Khan, so it would be easy for him to become ‘flat’ in a fight like this. He has nothing to gain, and he is expected to win every round in there.”

The contest will be televised live on Sky Sports next week, with Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo in action for the second time in a month.